November 2025: Sharan: Computer scientists still essential in the age of AI
Artificial intelligence may be transforming the way code is written and applications are built, but human expertise remains indispensable. Prof. Roded Sharan, Edmond J. Safra member and Head of the Blavatnik School of Computer Science and AI at TAU, stressed in an interview with Mako that academia and skilled programmers are more critical than ever.
As artificial intelligence increasingly writes code and builds applications, questions arise about whether computer science studies remain relevant and whether academia can keep pace. Prof. Roded Sharan, Edmond J. Safra member and head of the Blavatnik School of Computer Science and AI, and Prof. Ofer Hadar (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev) explain in an interview to Mako (online news and entertainment portal) how their departments are adapting to this new reality.
Both emphasize that AI is a powerful tool, but not a replacement for human expertise. “AI is not everything” says Prof. Sharan. “We need computer scientists to guide these tools, explain how they work, and ensure they function properly”.
Prof. Sharan notes that computer science, in both its theoretical and applied branches such as bioinformatics, encompasses numerous methodologies beyond AI, with many tools developed through other approaches.
He notes that major breakthroughs, such as in video compression, now integrate AI-based algorithms, underscoring the importance of combining traditional computer science knowledge with new technologies.
To meet these challenges, Tel Aviv University has reshaped its curriculum, offering more than 20 courses in machine learning and updating existing courses to reflect AI’s growing role. Prof. Sharan emphasizes that timeless skills, as critical thinking, abstraction, and problem‑solving, remain at the core of computer science education and will continue to be essential for future generations.
Read more here.
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